What's happening with private players in India's space sector?
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The part of the space department that does business, called New Space India Limited (NSIL), wants private companies to make its biggest rocket, LVM3.
This rocket has already taken Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 to the moon, and it will also be used for the Gaganyaan mission, where people will go to space.
Opening up Indian Space Sector for Private Sector:
• The Department of Space (DOS) wants private companies to join space activities.
• This aims to spread space technology and grow the space economy in India (from $8 billion to $100 billion by 2040).
• Start-ups began emerging in India in the early 2010s, starting with Dhruva Space Private Limited in 2012.
• More space start-ups followed: Bellatrix Aerospace (2015), Manastu Space (2017), Skyroot Aerospace (2018), and others.
• Currently, there are over 200 registered space start-ups in India, attracting investments of โน1000 crore in 2023.
• Many of these companies focus on making satellites, rockets, etc., and provide launch services using ISRO’s PSLV/GSLV or private rockets.
Indian Regulatory Framework for Private Space Companies:
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):
• NSIL is a government-owned company created in 2019 to boost private sector involvement in India's space programs.
• It's responsible for making, putting together, and integrating launch vehicles with help from industry groups.
• In 2022, NSIL asked for private companies to fully build its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• A partnership of HAL and L&T has been chosen to make five PSLVs, with the first one likely launching this year.
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe):
• Established in 2020, IN-SPACe is a single-window agency for authorizing and supervising private space activities.
• It has signed 45 agreements with private companies to support their space endeavors.
National Geospatial Policy:
The policy, introduced in 2022, allows private firms to access government geospatial data without licenses.
It encourages private sector involvement in collecting geospatial data.
Indian Space Policy:
Rolled out in 2023, the policy shifts ISRO's focus from making space systems to advancing technology.
Amended FDI policy:
In 2024, the government updated its foreign investment rules, allowing higher FDI in satellite manufacturing and related areas.
NSIL Calling Private Players to Manufacture LVM3:
LVM3 is ISRO's heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of carrying heavy satellites to orbit.
NSIL wants private firms to help meet the growing demand for launching larger satellites.
They'll select manufacturers through a two-stage bidding process based on technical and financial factors.